Hate speech and disinformation are on the rise – and it’s happening fast.
A backlash against gender equality, including sexual and reproductive rights, is driving a torrent of hate speech and other forms of digital violence. Online hate and harassment harms millions of women, girls, LGBTQI+ communities and other marginalized groups – and often spills into discrimination and violence in the physical world.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is heightening the risks, especially for women and girls. AI speeds up the creation and spread of false or manipulated content, including deepfake videos, almost all of which are sexual and target women. Coordinated hate campaigns, including false narratives on comprehensive sexuality education, generate fear, compound stigmas and threaten decades of gains on gender equality and sexual and reproductive health.
At the same time, laws and support systems are failing to counter the onslaught.
As we mark the International Day for Countering Hate Speech this year, we can all work to make online platforms safer. Individuals can avoid harmful speech online and call on others to do the same. Policymakers must demand safeguards against the misuse of AI and uphold everyone’s right to live free from violence. Technology companies must prioritize user safety, security and privacy in product design and use, particularly for those at heightened risk of violence. Young people can use their digital literacy skills to build coalitions and forge a new era of solidarity against hate.
UNFPA is part of a global movement to address gendered hate speech online. For a deeply personal perspective, our interactive feature The Virtual is Real spotlights survivors of digital violence and harassment who are sharing their experience to raise awareness and make a difference. Together, we have the power to stop the hate and reclaim safe spaces for everyone.
